Summer 2024 Workshop Announcement:
Introduction to Mathematics for Machine Learning and Data Science
Almost daily we hear more about AI, Machine Learning, and Large Language Models. The news is full of stories about how AI will dominate our future. The motto: “Big data, bigger insights, best results” guides many machine learning applications. We live in a world where decisions are being made by analyzing large sets of data to predict phenomena and behaviors. Machine learning is a crucial tool in image recognition, sorting and classifications, and solving complex problems. With basic mathematical tools and background one can learn how to use machine learning algorithms to perform these tasks.
Starting in Fall 2023, UNL has offered three versions of a data science major available from the Department of Mathematics, School of Computing, or Department of Statistics. The three majors have a common core but different emphases in junior and senior level courses. Thus, this is an opportune time for developing data science courses from introductory courses to senior level projects.
Machine learning is a central field in data science. This professional development workshop will offer an introduction to the mathematics side of machine learning.
Instructor: Dr. Animesh Biswas
When: June 10 – 21, 2024
Time: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm (or 1:00 – 4:00 pm) with optional study sessions and instructor feedback sessions
Where: Avery Hall, UNL and via Zoom (Zoom link to be sent to registered participants)
Cost: Free to undergraduate students (CAS Math majors and CAS Data Science majors only), graduate students, and instructors in the Department of Mathematics
Who should attend: Students interested in an introduction to how math is used in machine learning and Math instructors interested in learning the math needed to teach a machine learning course
Prerequisites: One goal for the workshop is to lay the foundation for a course in machine learning that requires minimal background. Participants should have taken at least a one semester course in calculus. Optional but desirable are some programming experience (e.g., MATLAB/Python) or a course in linear algebra.
The workshop will discuss mathematical topics connected to the fast-growing field of machine learning. These include linear algebra, calculus, and optimization. Participants will learn in an active-learning environment about vector spaces, differentiation, gradient descent method, optimization over convex/non-convex domains, neural networks, and implementation with Matlab/Python. An optional component of the workshop will be to work in a group to produce a machine-learning project using real-world data. Math instructors will have an opportunity to meet with Dr. Biswas to discuss how best to present the material so that it is accessible to the widest possible audience.
To register: https://go.unl.edu/mmlworkshopsu2024
Questions: Contact Dr. Biswas at abiswas2@unl.edu
Additional notes not included in the announcement:
- The Department is still deciding whether to offer it in the morning or afternoon. That decision will be made after we learn who might be interested in the workshop but are unavailable either in the morning or afternoon.
- The workshop is jointly sponsored by the Department of Mathematics and the STEM CONNECT grant.
- An interesting, but optional, part of the workshop is to meet regularly with Dr. Biswas and offer feedback on his materials and how the material is presented. Thus, those who accept this opportunity will find themselves having a role as co-developers of the materials.